Major breakthrough for post-transplant infection

Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti, Head of Experimental Immunology at the Lions Eye Institute, along with researchers including Dr Chris Andoniou and Peter Fleming, have been globally recognised in one of the world’s top academic journals, Science. Their game-changing work into Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) represents a major breakthrough in controlling a virus which can cause life-threatening infections in transplant recipients.

Read the full media release here

Picture caption: The image demonstrates how antibodies (Y shaped) that are specific for particular CMV viral strains (antibodies are the same colour as the viruses) are able to stop them from reactivating. If the virus and the antibodies don’t match up, the virus escapes immune control and reactivates. There are no specific antibodies that can fight the “black” CMV viral strain, so this virus can reactivate and cause infection and disease.

Picture credit: Image provided by Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti, created by Leonie Herson, Square Cell